2019

Love plus love

Luis was 18 years old, they sent him to the Malvinas, military service, he was depressed, he didn't understand the reason for this war that was cutting off his chance to study, to organize his life. They gave the soldiers chocolate bars, with a small note inside. He opened it and read: «Soldier of my Homeland, defender of our rights, we love you and we're with you. 4th year, Liceo Santa Fe. I send you a kiss for good luck, Ángela» and a phone number. Luis went back home to the province of Entre Ríos, he was reunited with his family, friends were missing who had stayed behind in those inhospitable lands, but he brought back as a keepsake that letter that had helped him survive.

Ángela finished high school, she had been going out with a classmate for more than a year, the son of an important family in the town where she lived.

Luis decided to take up his engineering studies again, but in the province of Santa Fe. His parents wanted him to continue at the UBA, after many conversations, he went to Santa Fe.

When he arrived he called Ángela, he explained to her who he was and they agreed to meet that weekend, she explained that she would come with her boyfriend, who drove her there in his car, the meeting was moving, Luis explained to them that those little letters helped the soldiers and that he had kept it over his heart like a talisman, they talked for more than 3 hours and among the three of them a great friendship was born.

After a while Ángela broke off her engagement because she said she didn't know if what she felt for her boyfriend was love or the affection of lifelong friends. Her parents got furious and blamed Luis for this breakup. They reproached her for abandoning a wonderful boyfriend from a good family, known by everyone, for the sake of a stranger, one whose family nobody knew, nor how he'd come out of the war.

When Luis first went to Ángela's house he was very poorly received, he told them his father was a doctor and his mother an engineer but they didn't believe him, he was just a simple engineering student. Luis's parents, when they found out about their son's relationship, didn't accept it either, they were afraid he'd abandon his career for a skirt. They decided to travel there as a surprise, unannounced they showed up at the boarding house. They didn't find him, he had gone to lunch with Ángela, luckily they came back early and so they were able to meet. Luis showed his parents how hard he was working to earn his degree so that her parents wouldn't take him for a good-for-nothing. Ángela arranged with Luis's parents a surprise visit to her house so that everyone could meet. The families understood they had been wrong and that their children were truly in love. This is a romance that was born from a little note. In the future, which way will love's path go?

Raquel Kacman

next story: The notebook